Dean apologizes for flag comment

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Howard Dean, trying to quell a politically damaging flap over the Confederate flag, belatedly apologized Wednesday for inflicting "a lot of pain on people" by urging Democrats to court Southerners who display the symbol of the Confederacy.

In one of the most tumultuous days of his front-running campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate accused his rivals of misconstruing his remarks and pledged to continue reaching out to Southern white voters despite the criticism.

But he sought to put the matter to rest -- first by expressing regret and, hours later, by apologizing in an interview with The Associated Press. Rivals accused him of saying too little, too late after he had declined in Tuesday night's debate to admit error.

"Many people in the African-American community have supported what I said in the past few days because they understand what this is about," the former Vermont governor said. "But some have not, and to those I deeply regret the pain that I may have caused."